Southeast Asia

South of China, east of India and north of Australia lays Southeast Asia, a sub region of Asia. Here you’ll find beautiful beaches, tropical jungles and fascinating cultures. Southeast Asia sits on two fault lines beneath the Earth’s surface. The area is prone to tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanoes. Southeast Asia has a tropical climate, consisting of a rainy monsoon season and a dry, hot season.

Southeast Asia is divided into two parts: mainland Southeast Asia, which includes Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam; and 

Maritime Southeast Asia, which is made up of many islands and includes East Timor, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Christmas Island.

 Each country has its own unique culture and traditions, but these cultures are similar. Most people in Southeast Asia are Buddhist, Muslim or Christian. Families and traditions are important. Parents, teachers and elders are treated with respect and honor.

Here are some facts for you:

Southeast Asia is located on an intersection of geological plates which causes a lot of seismic and volcanic activity.

Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands are governed by Australia, but are a part of Southeast Asia

Includes an area of about 1.6 million square miles.Population: more than 593 million people

More than 1/5 of the population (about 125 million) lives on the Java island of Indonesia.

Islam is the most widely practiced religion though Buddhism and Christianity are also practiced

The different countries making up Southeast Asia have developed local languages within their individual cultures though English is spoken in most of them

There are more than 700 living languages spoken in just Indonesia

Southeast Asia Vocabulary

Indochina: Group of countries in Southeast Asia located on the mainland and not made up of islands

Tsunami: Usually caused by a tremendous oceanic disturbance, this is a very large and destructive wave

Visit this website. There are ten facts listed about Southeast Asia. Click on one (pick one that NOBODY else has chosen yet) and learn some good stuff. 

Comment on the blog and tell us what you learned.